The Warm Part of the Trip!

From Williamsburg we made our way down The Outer Banks and along the coast of Florida where we celebrated Thanksgiving with my dad.  Then on to Universal and Legoland before visiting my mom in Sarasota for a few days.

Let Go or Be Dragged still applies.  Due to some unexpected developments with Craig's business, we've decided to postpone our China departure from Jan. 6th to sometime in March -- probably around the 20th.  

Modeling the latest in coastal headwear on the Outer Banks.

Garvin asks to be buried anytime we're near sand, so this time, Craig made him a mermaid.

Beaufort (Byoo-furt), SC -- beautiful antebellum mansions and old trees covered with Spanish Moss, which we learned is not from Spain, nor is it moss.  It's a relative of the pineapple and lives on air and sunshine.  I took many pictures of the "moss" on the trees, but spared you.

Harry Potter World at Universal Studios.  What they have is wonderful, we just wanted more of it.  I think they should tear down about half the park and make HPW bigger.  This is the back of Hogsmeade.

Holding a butterbeer -- my mouth is still watering.  They need to bottle it and sell it in stores, it's fabulous!

After riding the 4D Hogwarts Ride.  I lost my breakfast a little while after this was taken.  

In Ollivander's Wand Shop.  Waiting for this was the longest line we encountered -- 20 some people go in the shop at a time, and the scene where Harry chooses his wand is reenacted with someone chosen from the crowd.  Guess who was selected! A wand "chooses" the volunteer.  Garvin then had the opportunity to buy the wand after the demonstration, which he did, of course!

I liked the Dr. Seuss part of Universal, and Harry Potter World.  The rest could be scraped.

Christmas cheer at an RV park -- complete with music, and lights flashing in rhythm.  The night and daytime view.

LEGOLAND!!!

Where else can you have a view of NYC from DC?!

Craig prepares to race Garvin with their Lego creations.  I think they both crashed and fell apart.  I loved Legoland.  It's very mellow compared to Universal and Disney. Another year and I think Garvin would have been too old, but he was still taken with it.  It's geared for kids ages 3 - 12.  The roller coasters were perfect -- they just go forward, and have enough drops and fast turns to make you scream, but no breakfasts were lost on this day!

These next two photos are decorated boats  -- while visiting my mom in Sarasota, we went to the Christmas Boat Parade in Venice Beach.  Very fun and festive! 

Another beach, another burial!

Dinner in the RV in Panama City, FL  Don't need to go back there, but other points along the Panhandle were lovely, like Apalachicola (say that 10 times fast) and Grayton Beach.

We're now in New Orleans visiting our friends who introduced us.  The plan is to be back in Colorado this time next week.